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The team from Charity Navigator, the nation's largest independent charity evaluator and leading donor advocate, shares their thoughts on emerging nonprofit-sector issues and offers tips to better inform your intelligent giving decisions.

Wednesday, March 7, 2018

Charity Navigator Celebrates Music in Our Schools Month

Did you know that March is Music in Our Schools Month? To celebrate, Charity Navigator is highlighting a few highly-rated organizations that are helping student across the country fall in love with music. These charities are committed to remaining financially healthy and accountable, while providing outstanding youth programs.

All Stars Project☆☆☆ + ImpactA new kind of performanceFounded in 1981, the All Stars Project (ASP) is a non-partisan organization dedicated to promoting human development through the use of an innovative performance and development based model. The ASP creates outside of school, educational and performing arts activities for thousands of poor and minority young people. It sponsors community and experimental theatre, develops leadership training and pursues volunteer initiatives that build and strengthen communities. Our programs include the All Stars Talent Show Network, the Joseph A. Forgione Development School for Youth, and the Castillo Theatre.Education Through Music, Inc. (NYC)☆☆☆☆ + ImpactPromoting and supporting music instruction in disadvantaged schoolsFounded in 1991, Education Through Music (ETM) promotes and supports music instruction in disadvantaged schools in order to enhance students' academic performance and general development. ETM forms long-term partnerships with inner-city elementary and middle schools that lack the resources to develop school-wide music programs. We ensure high-quality instruction by hiring qualified music teachers, providing ongoing training, and performing regular program assessments. We encourage academic teachers and music teachers to collaborate so that music can reinforce learning and development in all areas. And we help schools embrace music as a core subject by involving all members of the school community. ETM provides advisory services to organizations and schools around the United States, including ETM-LA, Inc., an organization founded in 2006, which we have licensed to implement our model in Los Angeles.Little Kids Rock☆☆☆☆ + ImpactEmpowering and equipping teachers to create music programs as diverse as the students they serveLittle Kids Rock is a national nonprofit dedicated to transforming lives by restoring, expanding, and innovating music education in our schools. The organization partners with school districts to train public school teachers in its innovative Modern Band curriculum, and donates all the instruments and resources needed to teach popular music in a way that empowers students to experience instant achievement. Little Kids Rock is a pioneer and leader in the area of youth-centered music education in our nation's public school system, now bringing free, weekly music lessons to more than 320,000 students, through the efforts of more than 2,000 teachers volunteering in 200 public school districts nationwide. Since its inception in 2002, Little Kids Rock has since exploded into a national movement that has served more than 650,000 students. More info at www.littlekidsrock.orgThe Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation☆☆☆☆ + ImpactGiving youngsters the many benefits of music education

The Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation keeps music alive in our schools by donating musical instruments to under-funded music programs, and vital support services to school districts nationwide, giving economically-disadvantaged youth access to the many benefits of music education, leading them to success in school, and inspiring creativity and expression through playing music.You can use Charity Navigator’s Advanced Search Tool to find even more music education charities to support during Music in Our Schools Month.